Marty
Becker, author of ‘Chicken Soup for the Dog Owner’s Soul, puts it quite well
when he says:

“All
you have to do is look, watch, smell and you’ll realize that is not true.

They
raid the garbage can. You know, we give each other a peck on the cheek when we
say hello, they give each other a peck on the rear end.”

John
Oxford, professor of virology and bacteriology at the Queen Mary University in
London, expanded further on just how much bacteria your dog’s muzzle and mouth
can carry.

“It
is not just what is carried in saliva. Dogs spend half their life with their
noses in nasty corners or hovering over dog droppings so their muzzles are full
of bacteria, viruses and germs of all sorts.”

Those
viruses and germs can cause conditions that are pretty damaging to human
health, as one U.K. woman learned the hard way.

She
contracted an infection from her Italian greyhound’s saliva. She didn’t even
realize anything was wrong until she was on the phone with a relative and began
to notice her speech slurring.

By
the time the ambulance arrived, she was slumped in her chair, her health
degrading rapidly. She recovered within two weeks of intensive care and plenty
of antibiotics.

Blood
tests showed the infection to blame was due to capnocytophaga canimorsus
bacteria, which is commonly found in the mouths of dogs and cats.

She’s
not alone – there have been 13 similar cases throughout the UK.

That’s not the only disease Fido can pass onto you through
their kisses.

There’s also ringworm infection.

A
ringworm infection is one of the easiest diseases for your dog to pass onto you
from smooching. If the ringworm bacteria is around their mouth and you engage
in kissing, bam. Ringworm for you too.

MRSA, anyone?

MRSA
infection in humans, which produce lesions like the unsightly one above, can be
caused by as little as one lick from your dog.

Dogs
can carry around this bacteria with very little effect on their own health but
when an owner comes into contact with it… Yeah, it’s a bad time.

Staphylococcus Aureus

Staphylococcus
aureus is similar to MRSA. Similar bacteria (which can be found in Fido’s
mouth) cause it but that bacteria is not as resistant to treatment.

I’d
still want to avoid it altogether to be honest, I don’t know about you.

Capnocytophaga Canimorsus

This
one’s really bad. How bad? Let’s put it this way – I’m easing you into it with
some text before I drop the picture on you.

This
man was told by his doctor that his capnocytophaga canimorsus infection was
caused by a dog licking his open wound.

His
feet were even worse. One had to be partially amputated.

We’ll
skip those photos.

Are you going to catch a disease from your dog that leaves
you with one foot and disfigured hands? Probably not.